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A synthesis method to obtain porous platinum-based macrotubes and macrobeams with a square cross section through chemical reduction of insoluble salt-needle templates is presented.
The synthesis of high surface area porous noble metal nanomaterials generally relies on time consuming coalescence of pre-formed nanoparticles, followed by rinsing and supercritical drying steps, often resulting in mechanically fragile materials. Here, a method to synthesize nanostructured porous platinum-based macrotubes and macrobeams with a square cross section from insoluble salt needle templates is presented. The combination of oppositely charged platinum, palladium, and copper square planar ions results in the rapid formation of insoluble salt needles. Depending on the stoichiometric ratio of metal ions present in the salt-template and the choice of chemical reducing agent, either macrotubes or macrobeams form with a porous nanostructure comprised of either fused nanoparticles or nanofibrils. Elemental composition of the macrotubes and macrobeams, determined with x-ray diffractometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is controlled by the stoichiometric ratio of metal ions present in the salt-template. Macrotubes and macrobeams may be pressed into free standing films, and the electrochemically active surface area is determined with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. This synthesis method demonstrates a simple, relatively fast approach to achieve high-surface area platinum-based macrotubes and macrobeams with tunable nanostructure and elemental composition that may be pressed into free-standing films with no required binding materials.
Numerous synthesis methods have been developed to obtain high surface area, porous platinum-based materials primarily for catalysis applications including fuel cells1. One strategy to achieve such materials is to synthesize monodisperse nanoparticles in the form of spheres, cubes, wires, and tubes2,3,4,5. To integrate the discrete nanoparticles into a porous structure for a functional device, polymeric binders and carbon additives are often required6,7. This strategy requires extra processing steps, time, and can lead to a decrease in mass specific performance, as well as agglomeration of nanoparticles during extended device use8. Another strategy is to drive the coalescence of synthesized nanoparticles into a metal gel with subsequent supercritical drying9,10,11. While advancements in the sol-gel synthesis approach for noble metals has reduced gelation time from weeks to as fast as hours or minutes, the resulting monoliths tend to be mechanically fragile impeding their practical use in devices12.
Platinum-alloy and multi-metallic 3-dimensional porous nanostructures offer tunability for catalytic specificity, as well as address the high cost and relative scarcity of platinum13,14. While there have been numerous reports of platinum-palladium15,16 and platinum-copper17,18,19 discrete nanostructures, as well as other alloy combinations20, there have been few synthesis strategies to achieve a solution-based technique for 3-dimensional platinum alloy and multi-metallic structures.
Recently we demonstrated the use of high concentration salt solutions and reducing agents to rapidly yield gold, palladium, and platinum metal gels21,22. The high concentration salt solutions and reducing agents were also used in synthesizing biopolymer noble metal composites using gelatin, cellulose, and silk23,24,25,26. Insoluble salts represent the highest concentrations of ions available to be reduced and were used by Xiao and colleagues to demonstrate the synthesis of 2-dimensional metal oxides27,28. Extending on the demonstration of porous noble metal aerogels and composites from high concentration salt solutions, and leveraging the high density of available ions of insoluble salts, we used Magnus’ salts and derivatives as shape templates to synthesize porous noble metal macrotubes and macrobeams29,30,31,32.
Magnus’ salts assemble from the addition of oppositely charged square planar platinum ions [PtCl4]2- and [Pt(NH3)4]2+ 33. In a similar manner, Vauquelin’s salts form from the combination of oppositely charged palladium ions, [PdCl4]2- and [Pd(NH3)4]2+ 34. With precursor salt concentrations of 100 mM, the resulting salt crystals form needles 10s to 100s of micrometers long, with square widths approximately 100 nm to 3 μm. While the salt-templates are charge neutral, varying the Magnus’ salt derivatives stoichiometry between ion species, to include [Cu(NH3)4]2+, allows control over the resulting reduced metal ratios. The combination of ions, and the choice of chemical reducing agent, result in either macrotubes or macrobeams with a square cross section and a porous nanostructure comprised of either fused nanoparticles or nanofibrils. Macrotubes and macrobeams were also pressed into free standing films, and electrochemically active surface area was determined with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The salt-template approach was used to synthesize platinum macrotubes29, platinum-palladium macrobeams31, and in an effort to lower material costs and tune catalytic activity by incorporating copper, copper-platinum macrotubes32. The salt-templating method was also demonstrated for Au-Pd and Au-Pd-Cu binary and ternary metal macrotubes and nanofoams30.
Here, we present a method to synthesize platinum, platinum-palladium, and copper-platinum bi-metallic porous macrotubes and macrobeams from insoluble Magnus’ salt needle templates29,31,32. Control of the ion stoichiometry in the salt needle templates provides control over resulting metal ratios after chemical reduction and can be verified with x-ray diffractometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The resulting macrotubes and macrobeams may be assembled and formed into a free-standing film with hand pressure. The resulting films exhibit high electrochemically active surface areas (ECSA) determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry in H2SO4 and KCl electrolyte. This method provides a synthesis route to control platinum-based metal composition, porosity, and nanostructure in a rapid and scalable manner that may be generalizable to a wider range of salt-templates.
CAUTION: Consult all relevant chemical safety data sheets (SDS) before use. Use appropriate safety practices when performing chemical reactions, to include the use of a fume hood and personal protective equipment. Rapid hydrogen gas evolution during electrochemical reduction can cause high pressure in reaction tubes causing caps to pop and solutions to spray out. Ensure that reaction tube caps remain open as specified in the protocol. Conduct all electrochemical reductions in a fume hood.
1. Magnus’ salt derivatives template preparation
NOTE: All salt templates should be chemically reduced within a few hours after preparation as prolonged storage results in a degradation of salt structure. This method describes each platinum-based macrotube and macrobeam product. To obtain additional specific product yield, conduct the method with replicate sets of salt template and reducing agent solutions.
2. Salt-template chemical reduction
NOTE: DMAB is toxic. Avoid breathing dust and skin contact by wearing PPE and conduct all associated tasks in a fume hood.
3. Prepare macrotube and macrobeam films
4. Material and electrochemical characterization
The addition of oppositely charged square planar noble metal ions results in near instantaneous formation of high aspect ratio salt crystals. The linear stacking of square planar ions is shown schematically in Figure 1, with the polarized optical microscopy images revealing salt needles that are 10’s to 100’s of micrometers long. A concentration of 100 mM was used for all platinum, palladium, and copper salt solutions. While the salt needle templates are charge neutral in that th...
This synthesis method demonstrates a simple, relatively fast approach to achieve high-surface area platinum-based macrotubes and macrobeams with tunable nanostructure and elemental composition that may be pressed into free-standing films with no required binding materials. The use of Magnus’ salt derivatives as high aspect ratio needle shaped templates provides the means to control resulting metal composition through salt-template stoichiometry, and when combined with choice of reducing agent, control over the nano...
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was funded by a United States Military Academy Faculty Development Research Fund grant. The authors are grateful for the assistance of Dr. Christopher Haines at the U.S Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Joshua Maurer for the use of the FIB-SEM at the U.S. Army CCDC-Armaments Center at Watervliet, New York.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
50 mL Conical Tubes | Corning Costar Corp. | 430290 | |
Ag/AgCl Reference Electrode | BASi | MF-2052 | |
Cu(NH3)4SO4Ÿ•H2O | Sigma-Aldrich | 10380-29-7 | |
dimethylamine borane (DMAB) | Sigma-Aldrich | 74-94-2 | |
K2PtCl4 | Sigma-Aldrich | 10025-99-7 | |
Miccrostop Lacquer | Tober Chemical Division | NA | |
Na2PdCl4 | Sigma-Aldrich | 13820-40-1 | |
NaBH4 | Sigma-Aldrich | 16940-66-2 | |
Polarized Optical Microscope | AmScope | PZ300JC | |
Potentiostat | Biologic-USA | VMP-3 | Electrochemical analysis-EIS, CV |
Pt wire electrode | BASi | MF-4130 | |
Pt(NH3)4Cl2Ÿ•H2O | Sigma-Aldrich | 13933-31-8 | |
Scanning Electron Microscope | FEI | Helios 600 | EDS performed with this SEM |
Shelf Rocker | Thermo Scientific | Vari-Mix™ Platform Rocker | |
Snap Cap Microcentrifuge Tubes, 1.7 mL | Cole Parmer | UX-06333-60 | |
X-ray diffractometer | PanAlytical | Empyrean | X-ray diffractometry |
X-ray photoelectron spectrometer | ULVAC PHI - Physical Electronics | VersaProbe III |
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